The Mountaineer Online

Volunteer Support Fund plans International Festival of Foods

Melody Everly

Staff Writer

Members of the Fort Drum community are invited to enjoy a night of culinary delight as the Volunteer Support Fund presents the 23rd Annual International Festival of Foods. Make your way to the Commons on April 25 to sample a variety of foods from various world regions.The festival will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m., and all proceeds will be used to cover child care costs for community volunteers, VSF President Karyn Mintz said. “The Volunteer Support Fund is a private organization that exists to help offset child care costs for parents who volunteer their time for private organizations within the Fort Drum community,” Mintz said. “This type of support allows many individuals the opportunity to volunteer, which directly benefits those organizations that depend on volunteers to operate.”The VSF supports organizations such as the American Red Cross, Boy and Girl Scouts, Fort Drum's Thrift Shop, North Country Spouses Club, USO, 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum, and the Army Volunteer Corps, just to name a few. “The International Festival of Food is our primary fundraiser, and (it) sets the budget of the Volunteer Support Fund for the upcoming year,” Mintz said. The festival consists of 10 different tables, featuring culinary specialties from many diverse regions. Tickets for the event will be sold at the door. Adult tickets cost $15, which includes cuisine from all 10 tables, as well as dessert. Tickets for children ages 3-11 cost $5, which includes cuisine from four tables, and dessert. Admission is free for children 2 and younger.Adult tickets will be sold for $10 in advance. They may be purchased through unit advisers, at Off the Beatin’ Path Gift Shop and at the Fort Drum Thrift Shop until the day of the event. Interested parties also may contact a VSF representative via their Facebook page to reserve tickets at the presale price.This year’s festival will see the return of several favorite staples, such as Italian and German fare, a sushi table, and the North Country table, which offers specialty cuisine made from local ingredients. Greek, American, Puerto Rican, Polynesia and French cuisine also will be featured. A highly anticipated new table will offer “Southern Comfort” foods. Child, Youth and School Services also will have a booth set up outside the main ballroom to provide arts and craft activities, temporary tattoos and balloons for children attending this event. For more information, visit www.Facebook.com/volunteersupportfund.

This Army Civilian Enterprise Newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S.
Army. Contents of the Fort Drum Mountaineer Online are not necessarily the official news of,
or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or Fort Drum.